This study investigated the performance of a cartilage slicer device referred to as the ‘Hacettepe cartilage slicer’.

Methods:

Forty-one cartilage pieces were harvested from eight fresh frozen human ears and measured in thickness with a digital micrometer. These pieces were randomly sliced using four different thickness settings and two different types of blades. The thicknesses of the slices and remaining pieces were measured also. Scanning electron microscopy was utilised to determine the surface smoothness of the slices.

Results:

Thickness results showed a proportional increase with the increasing thickness setting, with a ±0.1 mm margin of error. The measurements showed that over 95 per cent of the slices’ structural integrity was preserved. Although both blades provided satisfactory results, scanning electron microscopy revealed that the slices cut with a single bevel blade had superior surface smoothness.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, the current study is the first to evaluate the performance of a cartilage slicer device. Based on the thickness results, the Hacettepe cartilage slicer fulfilled its design goals: to consistently produce slices at the intended thickness with a ±0.1 mm tolerance, and to preserve over 95.3 per cent of cartilage thickness thereby ensuring undamaged, strong cartilage slices.

The preliminary results of this study were presented orally at the 4th National Otology Neuro-otology Congress, 21–24 April 2016, Antalya, Turkey, and at the 10th International Conference on Cholesteatoma and Ear Surgery, 5–8 June 2016, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Footnotes

The preliminary results of this study were presented orally at the 4th National Otology Neuro-otology Congress, 21–24 April 2016, Antalya, Turkey, and at the 10th International Conference on Cholesteatoma and Ear Surgery, 5–8 June 2016, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.